Pulmonary vein isolation balloon catheter

Abstract

The instant disclosure relates to electrophysiology catheters for tissue ablation within a cardiac muscle, for example. In particular, the instant disclosure relates to an electrophysiology ablation balloon catheter with a combination of coated and uncoated surfaces for focusing ablation energy at a desired portion of tissue.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An ablation catheter comprising:
 a catheter shaft including a proximal portion and a distal portion; and   an ablation component comprising:
 a balloon including a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end coupled to the distal portion of the catheter shaft; and 
 a plurality of electrodes spaced from another around a circumference of the balloon; 
   wherein the ablation component has a coated region and an uncoated region.   
     
     
         22 . The ablation catheter of  claim 21 , wherein the coated region is coated with an insulating material. 
     
     
         23 . The ablation catheter of  claim 22 , wherein the uncoated region is free of the insulating material such that energy delivery from the ablation component at the uncoated region is unimpeded by the insulating material. 
     
     
         24 . The ablation catheter of  claim 21 , wherein the coated region includes a distal portion and a proximal portion that is spaced from the distal portion by the uncoated region. 
     
     
         25 . The ablation catheter apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the uncoated region extends around a central portion of the ablation component, such that the ablation component is configured to generate circumferential lesions when used in ablation therapy. 
     
     
         26 . The ablation catheter of  claim 21 , wherein each electrode has a respective exterior surface that is substantially flat. 
     
     
         27 . The ablation catheter of  claim 21 , wherein at least a portion of a respective inner face of each electrode is coupled to the exterior surface of the balloon when the balloon is inflated. 
     
     
         28 . The ablation catheter of  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of electrodes are spaced evenly from one another around the circumference of the balloon. 
     
     
         29 . The ablation catheter of  claim 21 , further comprising a central lumen extending longitudinally through the balloon. 
     
     
         30 . The ablation catheter of  claim 21 , wherein the balloon is at least partially insulative. 
     
     
         31 . An ablation system comprising:
 an ablation catheter comprising:
 a catheter shaft including a proximal portion and a distal portion; and 
 an ablation component comprising:
 a balloon including a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end coupled to the distal portion of the catheter shaft; and 
 a plurality of electrodes spaced from one another around a circumference of the balloon; 
 
 wherein the ablation component has a coated region and an uncoated; and 
   a generator configured to generate electroporation pulses and transmit the electroporation pulses to the uncoated region to ablate tissue in contact with the uncoated region.   
     
     
         32 . The ablation system of  claim 31 , wherein the at least one coated region of the ablation component is configured to shield tissue in contact with the at least one coated region from the electroporation pulses. 
     
     
         33 . The ablation system of  claim 31 , wherein the at least one coated region is configured to insulate a blood pool and pulmonary vein tissue in contact with the at least one coated region from the electroporation pulses. 
     
     
         34 . The ablation system of  claim 31 , wherein the uncoated region extends around a central portion of the ablation component, such that the ablation component is configured to generate circumferential lesions when used in ablation therapy. 
     
     
         35 . The ablation system of  claim 31 , wherein the coated region is coated with an insulating material and the uncoated region is free of the insulating material such that energy delivery from the ablation component at the uncoated region is unimpeded by the insulating material. 
     
     
         36 . The ablation system of  claim 31 , wherein the coated region includes a distal portion and a proximal portion spaced from the distal portion by the uncoated region. 
     
     
         37 . The ablation system of  claim 31 , wherein each electrode has a respective exterior surface that is substantially flat. 
     
     
         38 . The ablation system of  claim 31 , wherein at least a portion of a respective inner face of each electrode is coupled to the exterior surface of the balloon when the balloon is inflated. 
     
     
         39 . The ablation system of  claim 31 , wherein the plurality of electrodes are spaced evenly from one another around the circumference of the balloon. 
     
     
         40 . The ablation system of  claim 31 , wherein the ablation component further comprises a central lumen extending longitudinally through the balloon.